Russian missiles and drones pounded Kyiv early Friday, killing four people and injuring 27 others. The assault ignited fires and damaged several residential buildings across the city. Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the fatalities and warned that rescuers still could not reach two bodies trapped beneath debris.
Emergency crews raced to multiple sites after powerful explosions echoed across the capital. Nine of the injured, including a pregnant woman, were hospitalized. Two children aged seven and ten were among the victims. Officials said at least 11 apartment blocks in different districts suffered heavy damage.
In Shevchenkivskyi and Holosiivskyi, falling debris triggered blazes near a medical center and inside a commercial building. City authorities urged residents to remain in shelters until the all-clear sounded and warned of possible power and water cuts.
Zelenskyy Condemns “Calculated Terror” on Civilians
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the assault as a “deliberate, calculated attack designed to cause maximum civilian harm.” He said Russian forces used 430 drones and 18 ballistic and aeroballistic missiles in the overnight strike.
Officials called the bombardment one of the most intense in months. Ukraine’s Air Force reported intercepting several missiles but acknowledged that others struck residential zones. Zelenskyy vowed to hold Russia accountable and said Ukraine’s air defenses would continue to adapt to the escalating assaults.
Regional head Mykola Kalashnyk confirmed that strikes outside the capital also injured at least six civilians and destroyed vital infrastructure. A 55-year-old man in Bila Tserkva suffered severe burns and required hospitalization.
Moscow Pushes Forward Despite Heavy Losses
Russia’s latest bombardment coincides with its slow advances in southern Ukraine. Ukrainian troops have pulled back from several villages in the Zaporizhzhia region after fierce battles. Over the past month, Russia claimed to capture nine towns in Donetsk, eight in Zaporizhzhia, seven in Dnipropetrovsk, and five in Kharkiv.
Despite these limited gains, Moscow continues to pay a steep price in soldiers and armored vehicles. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War said Russian forces have concentrated elite units and drone operators near Pokrovsk but face delays due to stretched supply lines.
Ukraine continues to fortify key positions while bracing for further attacks. Officials warned that Russia’s campaign of attrition shows no sign of slowing, even as its strikes devastate civilian areas far from the frontlines.
